INDUSTRY EXPERT


industry for the flexibility. None that I have ever met thought it was in any way a job. They knew it was a business. They knew they had to pay their tax; that if they took a day off there was no pay that day. They knew they were self-employed. As stated earlier, this was no secret but in fact the very reason that they became a minicab/private hire driver, because they wanted to be their own boss. An important point is that these were adults who had made a career choice to step away from secure PAYE employment to be their own boss, have their own business and suit themselves.


been in the high nineties that they want more money today.


I agree that not making provision for old age may be a mistake but maybe for many it is not an issue. Our industry is culturally diverse, and many cultures look after their old folks themselves. They work hard to educate their kids and keep their parents and grandparents comfortable which is hard work and requires flexibility.


Taking away that choice,


adversely impacting their culture and ability to discharge their responsibilities and damaging the industry by removing flexibility serves no one well.


The urge amongst many policy makers and academics to make decisions through the lens and memes of white middle class England is flawed. Many of the people in our industry are breadwinners for multiple generations and need to maximise their earnings now. Some people don’t take four weeks holiday a year and have every bank holiday off, instead they work hard when others are resting, that’s why they drive a cab to enable them to do so. They want to meet the cultural expectations of their community. Many people in this industry who do not have cultural responsibilities still value flexibility, that’s why they drive a cab.


Where is the evidence? Where is the benefit?


The majority of participants in this industry knew how it worked before they joined, arguably most joined because of how it worked. Almost every driver I have ever met joined the private hire


PHTM FEBRUARY 2025


The outcome has been operators who now have to tip toe around their contractors, risk being the next company dragged off to court for the inevitable humiliation, and to see their business becoming less reliable and consequently less valuable. Customers have also seen the service they used to rely on, the service they could count on, become nothing of the sort. So, has the driver benefited? Short term a few have enjoyed a windfall that they never expected, but long term all will suffer as the trilogy of driver, operator and customer move in their disparate directions.


The most feared words


President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, once said that the most feared words for any business are: “Hi I’m from the government, I’m here to help you”. He was probably right. We have stumbled into a culture whereby no one is responsible for anything, a new law, a change of regulation can fix everything and running a successful business has turned from an achievement into a guilt trip. It is not logical, it is not sensible and there is no benefit in turning an industry that has served driver, customer and operator well for decades on its head. If someone is a professional driver, there are plenty of PAYE jobs out there, but you will be expected to turn up each day, drive the vehicle you are given, work eight hours per day, wear the uniform and sing the company song. If you want to be a private hire driver you turn up when you like, drive the car you like and wear what you like. Its not complicated.


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